Police bust syndicate hijacking cement trucks, arrest 8 suspects
The Ogun State Police Command has smashed a notorious armed robbery syndicate specializing in hijacking trailer trucks along the Papalanto–Ilaro and Owode–Idiroko axis, arresting eight suspects and recovering goods worth millions of naira.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, disclosed that operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) successfully recovered a hijacked trailer, 900 bags of cement, and a locally made firearm during the operation.
According to the police spokesman, the breakthrough followed a directive from the Commissioner of Police, who ordered the Anti-Robbery Squad to dismantle the criminal network terrorizing commercial supply chains in the state.
Through covert surveillance and crime pattern analysis, detectives tracked the syndicate to their hideouts. The operation led to the interception of the hijacked truck and the discovery of a warehouse where the stolen cement had been diverted.
The eight suspects arrested in connection with the crime were identified as Mogaji Sodiq (a.k.a. “Ogbonṣ”), Adebowale Lekan, Ajah Peter, Ganiyu Razaq, Odeleye Ayoola, Egboja Amos, Bello Akeem, and Olaifa Sunday.
"The suspects were apprehended at different locations across the state based on actionable intelligence," DSP Babaseyi stated. "Subsequent operations led to the recovery of their locally made single-barrel pistol."
Investigations revealed a pattern of organized theft where the gang targeted commercial trucks, hijacked them at gunpoint, and offloaded the goods into secret warehouses before disposing of the vehicles. The police noted that this specific syndicate had carried out multiple similar operations in the past.
The Commissioner of Police reiterated the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and assured residents and road users of continued safety.
He vowed that the remaining fleeing members of the gang would be tracked down and prosecuted.
The suspects are expected to be charged to court upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations.